Sports Tips & Advice

15 Olympic Hopefuls Share Their Fit Secrets

By SELF Editors

Maybe you'll never be in the Olympics (us, neither), but you can still get a gold-medal body, determination and guts. We asked 15 incredible Olympic hopefuls to share their secrets. Prepare to become...Stronger, Faster, Sexier!

Be Like Lolo Jones

If you fall, get back up!

At the 2008 Olympics, Jones was a favorite in the 100-meter hurdles. She was on pace to win gold—until she tripped over the penultimate hurdle. Devastated but not defeated, she fought her way back to break the American record in the indoor 60-meter hurdles in 2010. This could be the year of Lolo's revenge. "Bad things can be good," she says, "if you use them as motivation."

Be Like Gwen Jorgensen

Think you can't? Think again.

Before USA Triathlon called to recruit her, Jorgensen had a plan: desk job. As an accountant. Now she'll compete to win a 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run. In her third ever race in the World Championship Series, she took second, the best finish by an American woman. The Olympic race is on the same course, and she plans to make history again. As she says, "I'm 100 percent ready."

Be Like Missy Franklin

Chill out, and have a good time!

Though she hasn't even graduated from high school, Missy "The Missile" hopes to make a big splash at this year's Games, where, if she makes the team, she could compete in multiple events. This last year alone, the 6-foot-1 soonto- be-senior broke the world record in the 200-meter backstroke and nabbed three golds, a silver and a bronze in the 2011 FINA World Championships. Watch for her in the Olympic trials, going on now—if you can see her streak by. She got her nickname for a reason!

Be Like Hope Solo

Pursue your passion.

Dynamo Solo helped the U.S. women's soccer team take gold in 2008, and now the all-star—who grabbed the Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup—is ready to defend the goal and the team title.

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